Virtual Pilgrimage 2025
Paray Le Monial, Nevers, Taize, Cluny and Ars Sign Up for the Daily UpdatesOffer A Prayer Intention
Journey with us in prayer and spirit
From the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paray le Monial to the shrine of St John Vianney in Ars, our diocesan family will walk in the footsteps of great witnesses of faith. Led by Canon John Udris and accompanied by Canon Simon Penhalagan, this pilgrimage is a time of prayer, discovery, and encounter with the living tradition of the Church.
This page gathers together the heart of our journey each day:
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Video reflections filmed on location,
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Audio homilies and prayers to guide your own devotion,
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Daily blogs and pilgrim stories,
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Photographs and moments of grace along the way.
Whether you are travelling with us in person or following from home, we invite you to make this a virtual pilgrimage. We invite you to join us in spirit through prayer. Simply click the ‘pray with us’ button above and add your name and prayer intention in the boxes. Your petitions will be carried with us and remembered at the Masses, shrines, and holy places we visit throughout the pilgrimage.
Each day offers an opportunity to meet the saints who shaped the Church, and to allow their witness to inspire our own discipleship.
We hope you will join us daily, pray with us, and discover anew the love of Christ shining through the lives of St Margaret Mary, St Bernadette, St John Vianney, and the communities of Taizé, Cluny, and Sept-Fons.
Simply click on the corresponding box for the day above to access to the virtual pilgrimage for that day.
Day One : Travel To Paray Le Monial
Morning reflection Day One
The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Day One: In the Heart of the Sacred Heart – Paray le Monial
The alarm went off long before dawn, and by 5:00 a.m. the first pilgrims were gathering at Luton Airport, sleepy-eyed but full of anticipation. As we checked in for our flight to Lyon, there was already a sense that something special had begun: a journey not just across countries, but into the very heart of faith.
After landing in Lyon mid-morning, we boarded our coach and began our pilgrimage properly with prayer. Fr Simon led us in opening prayers, and Canon John guided us through the Rosary, helping us centre our hearts on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Margaret Mary Alacoque, whose life and visions would shape our first days in France. Our tour guide, Alex, introduced herself with warmth and humour, the perfect companion for our week ahead and soon the chatter on the bus began to sound like a group of old friends on a shared adventure.
Arriving in Paray le Monial around lunchtime, we enjoyed our first taste of local hospitality at Restaurant Viandes Charolaises, a delicious three-course French meal that revived our travel-weary spirits! Afterwards, we strolled through the pretty streets of Paray-le-Monial to our hotel, Le Prieuré, where we’ll be based for the next five nights.
The highlight of the day came at Mass in the Chapel of the Apparitions, where Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary in the 17th century. Standing in that sacred place was deeply moving. Fr Simon reminded us that this devotion which was born here is a reminder of God’s burning love and mercy for every human heart. We learned that St Margaret Mary, a Visitation nun, received a series of private revelations from Jesus, who showed her His Heart “burning with love” for the world. Within the chapel we also venerated the relics of St Margaret Mary and St Claude La Colombière, her confessor, alongside relics of St Francis de Sales and St Jane Frances de Chantal. To know that St John Paul II once knelt in prayer at that very spot made the experience even more powerful.
After Mass, we walked back to the hotel as the evening light faded over Paray. Another wonderful meal, yes, another three courses! and plenty of laughter closed our first day. Tired but deeply grateful, we go to sleep tonight knowing we have stepped into the living heartbeat of Christ’s love. Tomorrow, the journey continues but tonight, we rest in the Sacred Heart.
The revelations of the Sacred Heart to Margaret Mary are all about the God who wants us to repay his love, who wants us to return his love.
DAY TWO: WITH SAINT BERNADETTE IN NEVERS
Morning Reflection Day Two
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Day Two – From Paray-le-Monial to Nevers: Walking with Saint Bernadette
The day began quietly, the morning light filtering through the windows of our hotel in Paray-le-Monial. By 8 o’clock, pilgrims gathered for breakfast, a cheerful hum of conversation rising over plates of warm pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit. There was a sense of calm anticipation in the air, the kind that comes when one knows another beautiful day of pilgrimage lies ahead.
Soon, we boarded the coach and began our journey to Nevers, a gentle hour and a half ride through the rolling French countryside. The fields, misty and golden in the early light, seemed to stretch endlessly as we wound our way through sleepy villages and farmland.
Fr John led us in morning prayer as the coach hummed softly along the road. He shared a reflection drawn from Pope Francis’ Dilexit Nos, words that reminded us deeply of the love of Christ:
“He loved us,” Saint Paul says of Christ (Rom 8:37), to remind us that nothing can ever separate us from that love. Jesus tells us, “I have called you friends.” His open heart waits for us, unconditionally, asking only to offer us his love and friendship.
It was a tender moment, the kind of reflection that quietly settles into one’s heart. We concluded with the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our voices joined together as the countryside unfurled outside the windows.
As we approached Nevers, the spires of the cathedral appeared on the horizon, a first glimpse of the town that became home to Saint Bernadette after Lourdes.
Upon arrival, we made our way past a small replica of the Lourdes grotto, a fitting welcome before celebrating Mass. Pilgrims from other groups joined us, filling the chapel with song and reverence. During his homily, Fr Simon reflected on Saint Bernadette’s depth of faith:
“St Bernadette is often presented as a simple soul,” he said, “but she was a person of great integrity and strength of character.”
After Mass, we watched a short film on Bernadette’s life, her simplicity, and her steadfast faith despite illness and suffering. We then entered the Sanctuary to venerate her incorrupt body, a moment that left many of us in quiet awe. There was a profound stillness in the chapel, as if time itself had slowed. Nearby, a small shrine overflowed with notes of thanksgiving: “Thank you for hearing our prayers.”
We wandered next through the Musée Sainte Bernadette, which beautifully tells her story, from the humble beginnings in Lourdes to her hidden years in Nevers.
The afternoon brought a change of pace. We strolled through the charming Parc Roger Salengro into the city centre for lunch, enjoying a bit of sunshine and laughter along the way. Afterwards, we wandered past the grand Palais Ducal and admired Nevers Cathedral, an architectural wonder that is half Romanesque, half Gothic, as if two centuries of devotion had met in one magnificent building.
As the day drew to a close, we made our way back to the coach, rosaries in hand, praying together as we journeyed home through the fading light.
That evening, back at the hotel, Fr John gathered us once more to reflect on the image of Jesus presenting His Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary, a reminder of love made visible, of the heart that burns with mercy for all.
Dinner followed, filled with conversation and contented smiles, the kind that only come at the end of a full and grace-filled day.
Teaching: Basilica of the Sacred Heart
DAY THREE: TAIZÉ AND CLUNY
Morning Reflection Day THREE
The Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Day Three: Heart Speaks to Heart: From Paray-le-Monial to Taizé and Cluny
This morning began with a quiet sense of awe, the kind that settles in the heart before words can form. As we gathered before Mass, we were invited into the sacred intimacy of Paray-le-Monial’s relics: those of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Claude de la Colombière, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, and St. Francis de Sales. Each saint, in their own way, had lived and loved deeply from the heart of Christ and standing before them, you could feel the centuries of faith still alive in the air.
We were also shown the spot where St. John Paul II knelt during his pilgrimage here, a simple place now charged with the weight of prayer and reassurance. It was here that he confirmed to the world that the messages of the Sacred Heart given to St. Margaret Mary were truly from God. Our guide shared a touching detail: the floor of the confessional room was once heated so that the priests’ feet would not freeze during long hours of confession. Even in small things, love was made tangible.
Mass felt particularly intimate today, surrounded by such witnesses to devotion. There was a palpable sense of continuity, that our prayers were being woven into the same tapestry of love that began here centuries ago.
After Mass, our guide Alix led us through the Jardin du Cloître, a serene garden filled with the mingling fragrances of countless plants. Each scent seemed to find harmony with the others, a living metaphor for the Church itself: diverse, yet beautifully united. Alix told us that the Benedictine monks who once served the basilica lived here, their quiet presence still felt in the gentle rustle of leaves and soft fragrance of thyme and lavender.
From there, we strolled back to the hotel before boarding the bus to Taizé.
As the countryside rolled by, Fr. Simon and Fr. John led us in prayer, their voices soft and steady over the hum of the wheels. They shared these moving words from Pope Francis, drawn from Dilexit Nos:
“Saint John Henry Newman took as his motto the phrase Cor ad cor loquitur (Heart speaks to heart), since, beyond all our thoughts and ideas, the Lord saves us by speaking to our hearts from his Sacred Heart… It was in the Eucharist that Newman encountered the living heart of Jesus, capable of setting us free, giving meaning to each moment of our lives, and bestowing true peace.”
As we reflected, a quiet peace filled the bus. The landscapes outside, fields, vineyards, distant hills, seemed to echo the gentle rhythm of the prayer.
Alex also shared that at Taizé, pilgrims can stay for weeks, living in silence and prayer alongside the brothers. A reminder that holiness often asks for stillness, not grand gestures.
Upon arriving, we were welcomed by Brother Jean-Marc, whose warmth immediately made us feel at home. He shared the remarkable story of Brother Roger, the founder of this ecumenical community during the Second World War.
Fleeing Switzerland on his bicycle, Brother Roger arrived in Taizé, where an elderly woman urged him to stay, a voice he took to be God’s own invitation. He began to pray three times a day and opened his home to refugees fleeing war. From those humble beginnings, the Taizé Community was born, a living testament to reconciliation and unity among Christians.
Today, around 80 brothers live there from Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican traditions. They live simply, pray three times daily, and welcome all, young and old, believer and seeker alike. Everyone contributes, cleaning, cooking, tending the grounds and in that shared simplicity, one glimpses the Kingdom of God.
Walking through the grounds, we saw groups of young people sitting together on benches, speaking in countless languages but sharing one faith. Inside the vast Church of Reconciliation, many sat cross-legged on the floor as the brothers began their evening prayer.
Their chanting in English, French, German, and Latin rose like incense. Each repetition seemed to draw us deeper into stillness. It was as if the entire room was breathing in prayer.
After Taizé, we travelled on to Cluny, where we had a little time for lunch before visiting the legendary Cluny Abbey, once the greatest monastery in Western Europe. Founded in the 10th century by Duke William of Aquitaine and dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, Cluny was a spiritual powerhouse that helped shape the Church for generations.
Our guide explained how the abbey’s architecture evolved over centuries, layer upon layer of faith built atop the last. Much of it was destroyed during the French Revolution, but what remains still whispers of its former grandeur. The sunlight streamed through high arches, casting patterns of gold across ancient stones. We learned that architects from around the world once came to contribute their knowledge, a testament to how Cluny stood at the heart of Christian Europe.
As we walked through, it was hard not to feel both awe and loss, awe at what faith can build, and sorrow at how fragile even the grandest monuments can be.
On our way back to the bus, we prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, our voices joining in a steady rhythm as the evening sky deepened to violet.
Back at the hotel, Fr. John offered a reflection that lingered in our hearts:
“Our sins are the throne of God’s mercy.” St. Jane Frances de Chantal
And from St. Thérèse of Lisieux:
“Give me your own heart itself with which to love.”
One of our pilgrims, Joanne, shared something deeply moving, a medal passed down from her great-aunt Kathleen Blundell from the 1950s. One side bore the Sacred Heart with the inscription “Association in Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” and the other, an image of Our Lord with the words “Sweet Heart of Jesus, make me love Thee ever more and more.” It felt as if this medal, worn and precious, carried the prayers of generations, linking past and present in one unbroken act of devotion.
Dinner followed, filled with conversation and laughter, yet beneath it all a shared stillness, as if each of us carried something sacred from the day.
As night fell, one thought from the road lingered:
Heart speaks to heart.
Today, through relics and ruins, song and silence, prayer and pilgrimage, the Sacred Heart of Jesus spoke again. And we listened.
Teaching: Tenderness of the Heart
DAY FOUR: SEPT FONS ABBEY
Morning Reflection Day FOUR
The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Day Four: Walking with the Sacred Heart
Breakfast was at eight, and there was a quiet excitement in the air as we prepared for another day of our pilgrimage. The morning began with a gentle walk from the hotel to the chapel. A soft drizzle accompanied us, the kind that makes everything shimmer a little more brightly. It felt like a blessing, a gentle reminder of God’s presence in even the smallest drops of rain.
Mass was at ten, and the peace inside the chapel seemed to settle into our hearts. As we left, a French priest greeted us warmly and spoke about Saint Claude de la Colombière. He told us how Saint Claude had once travelled to England, only to be falsely accused of conspiracy, imprisoned, and then banished back to France. Yet, despite this injustice, he continued to hold a deep love for England. Hearing that story on this pilgrimage, so full of its own crossings and connections felt particularly moving.
After Mass, we had some free time until the afternoon. As we walked through the streets, Fr John stopped to bless a small group of pilgrims from Lithuania who were passing by. That moment, spontaneous and full of joy, captured something beautiful about pilgrimage—the way faith unites people from every corner of the world.
Many of us then explored the Basilica, which mirrors the great Abbey of Cluny we visited yesterday. The basilica’s design, in the Roman Burgundian or Cluniac Roman style, was created to draw in light and lift the heart toward heaven. Walking through it, you could almost imagine what Cluny Abbey must have looked like before the Revolution destroyed so much of it. The basilica stands as a living memory of that past, the last untouched example of that magnificent architectural period.
Later, a smaller group Fr John, Fr Simon, Alix, Jackie, Joanne, and I visited the Musée de Hiéron. It holds a remarkable collection, including an eleventh-century statue known as the “Smiling Christ.” The sculptor had designed real thorns to be placed in the holes of the statue’s head, yet the face of Christ still smiled, a quiet witness to love and suffering united. We also saw a statue of St Margaret Mary from the eighteenth century and learned about a theft that took place just a year ago, when parts of a 1904 artefact called Via Vitae—“The Way of Life” were stolen. It was a reminder of how precious and fragile these sacred treasures are.
From there, we went to the Church of St Claude de la Colombière. Outside stands a statue of the saint with the words, “He loves and he is not loved back.” Inside lie his remains, a silent testimony to a man whose heart burned with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
After lunch, we returned to the hotel for a brief rest before boarding the coach to Sept-Fons Abbey, a Trappist monastery. On the way, we prayed together, and Fr Simon read a reflection from Pope Francis:
“In the end, that Sacred Heart is the unifying principle of all reality, since Christ is the heart of the world, and the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection is the centre of history, which, because of him, is a history of salvation… May he pour out the treasures of his light and love, so that our world… may regain the most important and necessary thing of all: its heart.”
The drive was peaceful, and by the time we arrived, the air felt still and prayerful. The Trappists are a reformed Benedictine community who live lives of simplicity and silence. We began our visit with a short film about their life. It showed their daily rhythm: rising at 3:30 in the morning, working in silence, praying together, and retiring early at night. Their work, farming, cooking, cleaning, is not just labour but prayer in motion. Every gesture, every task, is offered to God.
We learned that when someone feels called to join them, the community carefully discerns whether that call is truly from God. A monk must let go of everything, family, possessions, even the dream of an ordinary life but in doing so, he discovers a deeper freedom, a life lived entirely for God. The abbey has two gardens: one open to all, and another reserved for silent prayer. The monks also gather for communal prayer and scripture reading, taking time to read slowly and attentively, letting the Word sink deeply into their hearts.
After the film, we saw a small model of the abbey and some old photographs before meeting the only English monk in the community. He shared his story: how he first came to the abbey to study for exams, then felt drawn to stay, joining the community at twenty-one. His words were simple yet profound. When asked about challenges, he said, “I’ve found happiness here, and challenges are part of our everyday life.” His serenity was striking—a quiet joy that spoke louder than words.
We then joined the monks for Vespers. The chapel was filled with golden light from a vast stained glass of Mary at the back. Along the sides stood the monks, two rows facing each other, each with their books open in song and prayer. The harmony of their chant seemed to lift time itself into eternity.
As the sun set, we returned to the coach, praying the Rosary together on the way back. The rhythm of the beads matched the rhythm of our day, moments of reflection, wonder, and grace.
Dinner was at half past seven, and conversation flowed easily, warm with the shared experience of the day. For those walking with us from home, imagine the peace that comes at the end of such a day: tired feet, full hearts, and a quiet gratitude for the journey we share, both on the road and in spirit.
May the Sacred Heart continue to guide us, and you, on this pilgrimage of faith.
DAY Five: Ars
Morning Reflection Day Five
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
Pilgrimage to France — Day Five: Ars, the Heart of the Priesthood
After a peaceful night in Paray-le-Monial, Day Five began at a gentler pace. With breakfast at 8 a.m. and departure not until 10, the morning offered a welcome pause. Some pilgrims took the chance to rest and catch up on sleep, while others wandered through the quiet streets of Paray-le-Monial, soaking in the prayerful stillness that seems to linger in every corner of this Sacred Heart town.
Praying on the Journey
As has become our beautiful custom, we began our bus journey with prayer. Fr John shared a profound reflection from Pope Francis’ Dilexit Nos on the symbolism of the heart — how it expresses our deepest love, affection, and vulnerability, and how, for Christians, it represents the human and divine love of Jesus Christ.
“The Church has chosen the image of the heart to represent the human and divine love of Jesus Christ and the inmost core of his Person… His loving heart invites us to encounter, dialogue and trust.” – Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos
As we travelled through the rolling French countryside toward Ars, this reflection seemed to prepare our hearts perfectly for what was to come — a day spent in the village sanctified by the life and witness of St Jean-Marie Vianney, the humble Curé of Ars.
Learning from St John Vianney
During the 90-minute journey, Alix shared insights into the saint we were about to encounter: a man of extraordinary humility and perseverance, who transformed a once-indifferent village into a beacon of faith. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his canonisation, a fitting moment to walk in his footsteps.
Upon arriving in Ars, we were warmly welcomed by a Benedictine Sister, who told us stories of St John’s early struggles and burning desire to serve God. From the age of seven, he longed to be a priest — even though, during the Revolution, such a calling could lead to death. Despite ridicule and academic difficulty, he persevered through humility and grace.
The Sister spoke movingly of his life of prayer: how he would kneel before the tabernacle and weep, crying out, “He is here!” — overwhelmed by the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
His compassion drew countless souls to conversion. Known as the “great confessor,” St John Vianney spent up to 16 hours a day in the confessional, guiding more than a million penitents to the mercy of God. People travelled for days to Ars, waiting for hours or even weeks for their turn to confess. Many were too burdened with guilt to enter the church — so he would go out, take them gently by the hand, and lead them in.
Mass in Ars-sur-Formans
We celebrated Mass in the Basilique Saint-Sixte, joined by a joyful group of pilgrims from the Philippines and their priest, Fr Mark. Before entering, Fr John led us in prayer, and inside, we were struck by the inscription in the Chapelle du Cœur:
“St Jean-Marie Vianney, patron of all the priests of the universe.”
There, beneath the altar, rests a relic of his heart — a powerful reminder of his love for Christ and for souls.
The basilica holds stories of countless healings; crutches left behind by those who found grace and strength through his intercession. The original church that St John Vianney restored still forms the heart of the site today, preserved by papal instruction:
“Respect that of the saint; do not touch it, leave it as it is.”
Meeting the Benedictine Sisters
After Mass, we met again with the Benedictine Sisters, whose quiet lives of prayer continue the mission of supporting priests. Their life of Eucharistic Adoration is, as they said, “the heart of our life.”
They explained that Paray-le-Monial is the heart of the Sacred Heart devotion — and Ars, where St John Vianney poured himself out for others, is its throne. Their community welcomes priests on retreat, offering silence, prayer, and spiritual renewal. As one Sister shared, “Whatever we receive through prayer, we share within our community.”
Walking in the Saint’s Footsteps
In the afternoon, we visited the Maison du Saint Curé, St John Vianney’s home. It was deeply moving to see the simple room where he lived, prayed, and eventually died. We also saw the tomb where his body now rests, lovingly cared for by Catherine Lassagne in his final days.
Next, we explored the Wax Museum (Musée de Cires), which brings to life key moments from his ministry. One scene recalled his first meeting with a young shepherd, Antoine Givre, who guided him through the mist to Ars. St John famously said:
“You have shown me the way to Ars — I shall show you the way to Heaven.”
The museum vividly portrayed his tireless pastoral work — his preaching, his confessions, his tears before the tabernacle, and his immense love for the Holy Spirit. As one display quoted him:
“Oh, how beautiful things are when we see them through the Holy Spirit.”
Homeward Reflections
Before leaving Ars, we stopped at the statue of St John Vianney and the young shepherd boy — a poignant reminder of the saint’s arrival in the tiny village that he would transform forever. Fr Simon noted that nearby stands a cross marking the site where a Pope once celebrated Mass — a beautiful link between the humble parish priest and the universal Church he served so faithfully.
After another peaceful journey back, Fr John offered an evening reflection before dinner at 7:30. It was a fitting close to a day filled with grace — one that invited us to rediscover the heart of priesthood, the beauty of confession, and the boundless mercy of God.
A Thought to Take Away
“The priest is not for himself; he is for you.” – St John Vianney
May we, like the Curé of Ars, keep our hearts open to encounter, dialogue, and trust in the burning love of Jesus Christ.
Teaching
